Authorities dig near a wooded area where the body of Brenna Machus was discovered in Dearborn on Thursday. / BRIAN KAUFMAN/Detroit Free Press

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Detroit Free Press

A dollar store employee whose body was found Thursday died from a single gunshot wound to the head, authorities said today.

Brenna Machus, 20, went missing Monday, when police say she disappeared after an apparent robbery at the Family Dollar on Newman in Dearborn. Her co-worker Joseph Orlando was found dead in the store by employees arriving for work Tuesday, and he also was shot in the head, according to the medical examiner’s office.

No arrests have been made in their deaths, but police said the investigation is ongoing.

“We are drawing on and coordinating all available law enforcement resources from our federal, state, county and local partners as our investigation continues, and we will continue to update the public with appropriate information as it develops,” Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said in a statement tonight. “We have no further information to release at this time.”

The deaths of Machus and Orlando were ruled homicides. Machus was identified through dental records, a spokeswoman for the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office said. Her body was found in a patch of woods Thursday in a wooded area between the northbound Southfield Freeway service drive and Michigan Avenue.

Police have said the store was in disarray when officers arrived. Machus’ car was still in the parking lot.

Police want to speak with anyone who was driving on the northbound Southfield Freeway service drive just before the eastbound Michigan Avenue ramp between 8 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. Thursday. Police are seeking witnesses who saw anything suspicious, such as a vehicle pulled over on the side of the service drive.

Reward money is being offered for information that leads to an arrest. Crime Stoppers of Michigan is offering up to $2,500 each for Orlando and Machus, and Family Dollar committed an additional $10,000 for Machus’ case.

A candlelight vigil is scheduled to be held at 9 tonight in Wyandotte’s Bishop Park, according to a post on a Facebook page established after Machus went missing.

Machus’ funeral is scheduled for next week. Visitation will be held noon-8 p.m. Monday and 9-11 a.m. Tuesday at the J.L. Peters Funeral Home, 3880 Fort in Lincoln Park. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements had not yet been made for Orlando, his grandmother said today.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAKUP (800-773-2587) or the Dearborn police tip line at 313-943-3012.